A woman was trying to take a photo of the I'm A Celebrity castle when she was killed in a car crash, an inquest into her death has heard.
Sharn Hughes, 58, wanted to see the lights at Gwrych Castle in Abergele, North Wales, where the reality show is currently filmed, so she could take a picture to show her friend.
Her husband David Elfyn Hughes went with her on November 21 last year, around a week after the 2020 series began, a hearing at Ruthin County Hall was told on Tuesday (October 5).
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The couple, from Prestatyn, parked in a layby on the A547 at about 5pm, Mr Hughes said in a statement.
Mr Hughes was walking ahead of his wife to find a good vantage point when he heard a loud bang, the inquest heard.
Realising there had been a car crash, he began to assist with stopping traffic, unaware that his wife had been involved.
“I presumed Sharn had already crossed the road and gone to help," he explained.
It was not until he spoke to police that he realised Mrs Hughes had been the victim, the inquest heard.
Mrs Hughes was wearing dark clothing when she stepped out from an archway leading to the castle into the road in front of a Volvo estate car, which was being driven by Shaun Davies, the inquest heard.
The inquest heard that extra road safety measures will be put in place during this year’s filming to prevent another incident.
Forensic collision investigator Simon Richards told the court there was no footpath on that part of the road and no street lighting.
He said it was unlikely Mr Davies could have done anything to avoid the collision while travelling at the speed limit of 60mph.
Coroner for North Wales east and central John Gittins said the chief executive of Conwy County Borough Council Iwan Davies had written to him outlining additional safety measures which would be in place for the filming of this year’s series of the popular ITV reality show.
These included a reduced speed limit of 30mph for the road up to and beyond the scene of the fatal collision.
Mrs Hughes’ family said they were grateful for the changes.
Mr Gittins told the family: “I’m absolutely certain that, regardless of the horrendous circumstances leading to her passing, you must be incredibly proud of this woman.”
He recorded a conclusion of death arising from a road traffic collision, with the cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries.
Mr Hughes said his wife's death came as a “total shock” to the family, including their children Arron and Annah.
He described Mrs Hughes as a “beacon of light” with a “joyous and charitable attitude to life”.
Her curiosity led to her wanting to see the lights at Gwrych Castle, which unfortunately led to her untimely and tragic death,” he said.
The family of Mrs Hughes told the inquest that £5,000 had been raised for a foodbank she collected for.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, hosted by Ant and Dec, was filmed at Gwrych Castle instead of its usual home of Australia last year due to pandemic travel restrictions.
It will return to North Wales for a second series later this year.
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